AROUND THE HORN

MARINERS: Ichiro Suzuki and the Mariners are close to finalizing a one-year deal for the 44-year-old to return to the club for which he played the first 11-plus seasons of his MLB career, USA Today reported. The Mariners will be without OF Ben Gamel for four to six weeks because of an oblique injury, opening up a roster spot for Suzuki.

CARDINALS: SS Paul DeJong signed six-year contract extension that will keep him with the Cardinals through the 2020 season, the team announced. According to reports, the deal is worth $26 million. DeJong, 24, hit .285 with 25 HRs and 65 RBIs last season in finishing second in voting for the National League rookie of the year award.

NATIONALS: LHP Seth Romero was sent home for violating club policy, Yahoo Sports reported. The 25th overall draft pick in the 2017 draft didn’t violate any MLB rules, but no there was no reason yet for his dismissal. In his final college season at Houston, Romero was suspended the first two weeks for conduct detrimental to the team. The Houston Chronicle reported that he was suspended again that season for a failed drug test before a third incident led to his dismissal from the program.

EXTRA INNINGS: 3B Adrian Beltre had two hits in his first two at-bats of the spring during the Rangers’ 5-4 victory over the Giants. Beltre sat for the Rangers’ first 10 exhibitions because the club wants to take it slow with the four-time All-Star, who turns 39 next month and played in only 94 games last season because of injuries . ... Angels DH Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-3, lowering his batting average to .143 . ... The A’s rallied from a nine-run deficit, scoring four runs in the ninth inning to salvage a 9-9 tie with the White Sox . ... The Mets announced Sunday that likely openingday starter Jacob deGrom threw a 40-pitch bullpen session and felt no ill effects from the back stiffness that sidelined him for several days.